Supplementary file 1_Haptic feedback as affective amplifier: enhanced fear perception affects cognitive performance and avoidance actions in VR height exposure.docx

Haptic feedback serves as a potent affective amplifier in virtual reality (VR), intensifying threat perception to influence emotional intensity. This study investigated how haptic-enhanced fear stimuli (delivered through platform shaking during VR height exposure) impair cognitive performance and avoidance actions. Twenty male participants with self-reported fear of heights were subjected to four emotion-inducing conditions: neutrality, ground, stationary, and shaking, with each condition separated by 1 week. We have multimodal assessed of physiological (EEG, peripheral physiological arousal), behavioral (movement distance, eye movement), and cognitive performance (nine-light task accuracy rates and reaction time) during fear induction. Results revealed significant declines in task accuracy and prolonged reaction times during the shaking condition, indicating resource competition where threat processing impaired goal-directed motor execution. The decreased movement distance and increased pupil dilation indicated the initiation of an automatic defense response. Furthermore, physiological markers confirmed amplified this threat processing. The increased heart rate and elevated β band activity in EEG, indicating heightened cortical engagement with fear stimuli. The integration of physiological, behavioral, and subjective measures provides a mechanistic model for affective-motor competition, demonstrating how somatic threat cues translate into altered actions.

触觉反馈（haptic feedback）在虚拟现实（VR）场景中是一种强效的情感放大器，可强化威胁感知并调节情绪强度。本研究探讨了经触觉增强的恐惧刺激（在VR高空暴露场景中通过平台晃动传递）对认知表现与回避行为的损害效应。本研究招募了20名自我报告存在恐高症状的男性参与者，令其先后参与四种情绪诱导条件实验：中性条件、地面条件、静止条件与晃动条件，各实验条件间隔一周。在恐惧诱导过程中，我们对多模态指标进行了采集与评估，包括生理指标（脑电图（EEG）、外周生理唤醒水平）、行为指标（移动距离、眼动数据）以及认知表现指标（九灯任务准确率与反应时）。实验结果显示，在晃动条件下，任务准确率显著下降，反应时显著延长，这表明存在资源竞争现象：威胁处理过程损害了目标导向的运动执行功能。移动距离缩短与瞳孔扩张程度升高，表明自动防御反应已被触发。此外，生理指标证实了威胁处理过程得到增强：脑电图记录到的心率提升与β频段脑电活动增强，表明大脑皮层对恐惧刺激的参与度显著升高。本研究整合生理、行为与主观报告三类指标，可为情感-运动竞争机制提供解释模型，阐明躯体威胁线索如何转化为行为改变。